Chu Teu tells the story of Vietnamese Tet through 3D animation
In the current wave of creative Tet products, where the need to preserve traditional identity while seeking new forms of expression is increasingly evident, the story of Banh Teu retold through 3D animation opens up an emotionally rich and culturally valuable approach.
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| 3D image of "Banh Teu" embodies the spirit of Tet and Vietnamese culture. (Source: Vietnam Animation Studio) |
Not merely a culinary promotion, The Journey of Banh Teu Bringing Vietnamese Flavors to the World is an effort to convey the spirit of Vietnamese Tet, Vietnamese lifestyle, and the essence of folk culture through modern artistic means.
Director and artist, People's Artist Nguyen Ha Bac, former Director of Vietnam Animation Studio, shared that Banh Teu in the film is not positioned as an ordinary dish but as a cultural symbol. It is the culmination of culinary art, gratitude to origins, family bonds, and the strong connection between Vietnamese generations during Tet.
In every culture, there exist values that are not ostentatious but persistently live in the community's memory. For Vietnamese people, it could be the kitchen smoke on the last afternoon of the year, the Tet feast gathering, or the traditional cakes respectfully placed on the ancestral altar.
These seemingly simple details are the "Vietnamese soul" – the depth of traditional Tet culture. Thus, exploring traditional culture in today's Tet products is not only about preservation but also about retelling these stories in a new, emotionally rich language with wider reach.
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| The 3D depiction of Chu Teu. (Source: Vietnam Animation Studio) |
In this context, 3D animation is chosen as a special storytelling medium. It is not just a modern communication tool but a comprehensive art form where images, motion, sound, and emotions blend.
When placed on the foundation of folk culture, 3D animation becomes a bridge between tradition and modernity, between Vietnamese identity and global rhythm.
At the heart of the story is Chu Teu – a familiar figure in Vietnamese water puppetry. In the Vietnamese psyche, Chú Tễu is a character who is innocent, intelligent, witty, relatable, and very "human".
Entering the 3D space, Chu Teu is not modernized in an alienating way or loses its identity, but retains the folk spirit: from the gentle smile, quirky walk to the friendly, warm demeanor.
This preservation makes Chu Teu an ideal "narrator" – familiar enough for Vietnamese people to recognize themselves, and unique enough for international friends to remember.
The beauty of the 3D animated film about Banh Teu lies in the meticulous care for each cultural detail. Every creative stage – from character design, setting, lighting to motion rhythm – is a layer of storytelling.
The rural landscape, lotus ponds, ancestral altar, and the warm hues of Vietnamese Tet are recreated not ostentatiously but profoundly, evoking emotions rather than showcasing. Traditional culture here is not "displayed" but lives and breathes in every frame.
Chu Teu's journey begins with a highly symbolic image: a box of Banh Teu placed on the ancestral altar. From the incense smoke, Chu Teu emerges, delicately holding a jar of Vietnamese ginseng – the essence of heaven and earth, symbolizing vitality, resilience, and the hospitality of the Vietnamese people.
This is not just the starting point of the story but also a way to affirm cultural roots, where all traditional values are preserved and continued.
From the Vietnamese home, Chu Teu travels across the country, carrying the story of Banh Teu and the genuine, affectionate Vietnamese people. And through the language of 3D animation, this journey continues to reach the world.
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| The project team. (Source: Vietnam Animation Studio) |
Amid modern and multicultural spaces, the small yet charming folk image of Chu Teu becomes a distinctive mark: simple, sincere, and full of identity. Vietnamese culture at this moment does not need loud promotions but naturally spreads through emotions.
The climax of the story does not lie in spectacle but in the sacred moment of New Year's Eve. After a long journey, Chu Teu returns to the old home. Fireworks light up, the sound of reunion laughter echoes, and the Tet feast with Bánh Tễu appears in warm light.
Chu Teu bows to the ancestors, smiling fully. The journey concludes, but its values extend far: from the roots, reaching the world, then returning in love.
Through 3D animation, Banh Teu is not just promoted as a Tet product but revived as a story with a soul.
This is evidence of the ability to explore and renew traditional cultural values with modern creative thinking – a promising direction that helps bring Vietnamese Tet and culture closer to domestic audiences and international friends, sustainably and emotionally.
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